Pharmacists across the state will soon be able to administer any vaccine that is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thanks to a bill passed by the State Senate last week.

"People trust pharmacists. They are our go-to for information on medication and health care, and I have to say, as a nurse, I endorse that," said American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Board Chairperson Sandi Cassese.

The bill’s passage in the Legislature is a win for many health equity advocates statewide. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network says it was an important move in the fight against cancer.

"There are a few ways that we know that we can prevent cancer. Obviously a healthy lifestyle, not smoking, but I think that people forget that vaccines play an important role in this," she said.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps to prevent six types of cancers, including cancer of the cervix.

"To be able to add HPV vaccines and other vaccines to our list just increases our accessibility, because pharmacists are the most accessible health care professionals," said holistic pharmacist Dr. Neal Smoller.

And the Cancer Action Network agrees.

"Ninety percent of all people in this country live within two miles of a pharmacy. Not everybody has access to primary care or to a physician, but we know that people have access to pharmacies," said Cassese.

New York and New Hampshire are, for now, the only two states in the country that do not allow all CDC-approved vaccines, including Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, to be administered in pharmacies.

"It is important to us to make sure that these life-saving vaccines are available to anyone who needs them. You shouldn’t be limited because of your geography," she said.